Breed Hype
I've been thinking about this and then seeing it being discussed in Rui's thread made me get off my butt and actually type it up lol.
When asked about your nihon ken and other dogs, how much do you hype the breed up to dissuade the average dog owner? Do you bother finding out how dedicated they are first or does everyone get the same treatment?
I really have issues with breeders hyping up their breed to the extreme, finding out what kind of animal owner I am and then giving me the good side, not necessary the realistic side. Though they're probably doing it for the good of the breed, I find it hard to trust someone who just gave me 2-3 absolute answers to 1 question. Yes, they're all truthful answers, I don't doubt that part and they can all happen but I just hate how absolute the answer is when given with no room to explain different scenarios. It's "yes, ALL chihuahuas will bite your ankles no matter the training, socialization, etc" and then it's "chihuahuas will NEVER bite your ankles no matter the training, socialization, etc". Am I the only one having this issue?
When asked about your nihon ken and other dogs, how much do you hype the breed up to dissuade the average dog owner? Do you bother finding out how dedicated they are first or does everyone get the same treatment?
I really have issues with breeders hyping up their breed to the extreme, finding out what kind of animal owner I am and then giving me the good side, not necessary the realistic side. Though they're probably doing it for the good of the breed, I find it hard to trust someone who just gave me 2-3 absolute answers to 1 question. Yes, they're all truthful answers, I don't doubt that part and they can all happen but I just hate how absolute the answer is when given with no room to explain different scenarios. It's "yes, ALL chihuahuas will bite your ankles no matter the training, socialization, etc" and then it's "chihuahuas will NEVER bite your ankles no matter the training, socialization, etc". Am I the only one having this issue?
Comments
I use a similar approach when people ask me about my dogs. Depending on the situation and what I gauge their interest level to be, I'll provide more or less detail. If I want to dissuade someone, I generally won't hype the breed, I will just be dismissive of their questions and only answer in generalities. If I feel like they might be a good owner, I'll provide all the gory details of day-to-day life with my Shibas.
But then, before Tsuki came into my life and turned everything I knew about dog ownership upside down, I was your 'average dog owner'. Before Tsuki, I had chihuahuas (who do not bite ankles!) and a rat terrier and a very lazy basset hound. I had NO idea what I was in for with Tsuki, regardless of the info I read online or the handful of shibas I met at a meetup. A 3.5 month old shiba pup will definitely mold you!
So I almost feel, well, wrong, for assuming that someone who is asking these questions about my dogs just can't handle the truth or meet the ownership 'requirements', because maybe if you had all met me 2 years ago, you wouldn't have thought I'd be up for it!
But I am now. I feel like I was molded into a good dog owner, not just a shiba person, but a good dog owner... others can be to. Yet I still size people up before I answer the questions, but I try to give everyone a fair assessment of what Dave called the gory details to protect the breed as much as possible
Actually, a couple of months ago, a guy phoned me to ask me about Kuma and Akitas. He got my number from the Portuguese Kennel Club, apparently. I tried to tell him the truth about having an Akita, since they were interested, trying to make him and his family see that it's not a dog that can be handled as a Lab, for example. I told him we could meet, if they wanted and we did, and they saw Kuma. The meeting served, at least, the purpose of making them see that getting one from the "breeders" here isn't a good option, and why they should look for a good breeder.
If they say "is that a husky puppy?" I say "Shiba inu" "A WHAT?!" -> "Japanese hunting breed". If they are walking a puppy and are interested in getting another one, meaning a shiba puppy, I usually say "Do you REALLY want two puppies, especially one of them being a Shiba?" If people have had previous dogs and seem like they're up for the shiba challenge, I tell them all about it and where not to get a puppy from and where to look for one instead such as several shiba inu rescues.
If they ask more questions I usually only go into the history of the breed and their origin and don't bother talking about the temperament. If a person asks me specifically what their temperament is like, I usually tell them that most of the Japanese breeds are uniquely difficult in one way or another and that they are not a breed for everyone. If they ask for detail I give it.
The exception to the rule is Masha. When she goes into petsmart or whatever she is so good and people are so stoked to hang out with her. When they start to ask questions about the breed I tell them she is a "guardian breed" and "we are here to socialize her so she can grow to be a good canine citizen"... usually they will ask what I mean, and so I say something like "Caucasian Mountain Dogs, if not produced from a solid breeding program and/or not socialized properly, can be a very large liability, most can't be walked in petsmart like Masha can - she is an exceptional example of the breed".
People usually will go "oh, ok" and walk away at that point. I do this because, IMHO, a CO requires a much more skilled and educated owner than our other breeds. The liability of owning a CO is much higher than with a Shikoku, Kai, Shiba, or even Akita.
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There are some folks who are certainly interested and parrot everything they have picked up or read (sometimes very inaccurately). I find that very annoying. Many self-proclaimed experts usually are trying prove how much they know, sometimes in a one-upmanship rather than being who they are (i.e. it’s more about them and not the dog).
Sadly many people become angry when a shelter, breeder, rescue etc does not consider a potential owner’s “expertise”, personality, or situation suitable for a particular pet. In many cases they take it as a personal insult since they feel they parroted or demonstrated their knowledge so well.
I tell people, breed decisions and pet ownership are really about looking into your personal situation and looking at the needs of the individual animal and specific breed characteristics as a whole. There are times in ones life that an animal/breed need will not fit in well for one reason on another. Some people do not or are not able to see that at times. Needs and wants are not weighed appropriately. (yeah, I know I am preaching to the choir here).
Anyway, in rescue I would give more slack to someone who is admittedly a novice dog owner that listens, takes the commitment seriously, is willing learn, and has done some homework for sure. I always indicate how important training is for the dogs. I think more people are receptive to that idea these days.
Snf
Now, I know that some people act like this because they've run into a number of people who get dogs without really thinking of the work involved, but you should at least give someone the benefit of the doubt. If someone asks me about my dogs, I just tell them the truth. The truth will sound awesome to some and horrible to others, which just goes to show that no breed is for everyone.
"They are a Japanese hunting breed, they will chase birds, squirels, anything that runs, they will run away from you in half a second, they are stubborn, independent, insane, crazy puppys, they get bored and need lots of stimulation and they will love you like no other dog has before. I am lucky enough to be owned by two."
Sarah (strapped to a tree thanks to LaikaTrio's Code Orange Squirrel Alert): "Which dogs? Where?"
Passerby: "Border Collies!"
Sarah: "Sir, these aren't Border Collies and we claim no 'intelligence' whatsoever associated with that breed!"
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Passerby: "Are those Akitas?"
Sarah: "No. Thank you for putting put them in the right FCI group, though."
OR "Yes" (if that means that the passerbys will leave me alone...sometimes I want to be left alone...the Akitas do a have a reputation that I will unapologetically take advantage of, whereas noone knows what a Laika is! If they knew, they would think it was WORSE! LOL)
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I've had ONE person ask me if they are KBDs (and also asked permission to pet them before diving in). I felt like giving them a Gold Star.
(I do my best to educate about the breed, but the Trio attracts alot of attention and sometimes I just want to hike.)
- "You have beautiful dogs."
- "That's a cool looking dog!"
- "What's it called?"
Sometimes (depending on who's asking) I'll be very reserved about certain information. Once you get me started though, I don't shut up. I'll start offering information. You have to be pretty dog savy or at a dog event for me to be like this. I've been greeted by random people on the street, asking me how much a Shikoku cost. Um, yeah...I totally downplay it all. Oh they don't cost very much. Rare? Oh no...they're just not very popular these days. They're just scattered about, it's a pretty BIG world we live in. Besides, people are more into pocket dogs nowadays or their Labs, probably why. -stranger looks kinda intimidating, tosses Lynx out- So, yeah...it's a Japanese hunting dog. What? Oh this...this is a Malinois, these are POLICE dogs. With people I'm leery of, I sometimes feel guilty throwing the Shikoku name out. Sometimes I "slip" though. Usually I just tell them "Japanese hunting dog". If it's not enough they'll ask for the breed name.
Now...under normal and less threating circumstances, I'm pretty outwardly open and inviting about my breeds. If someone is interested in a family pet, I usually push the Shikoku as opposed to the Malinois. Malinois carry too much of a liability, you have to be an experienced owner. I would not recommend them to a family with small children. However, a Shikoku...sure, they'd make an excellent pet to a family with small children. I tend to talk ALOT of people out of getting a Malinois (I make them up to be like such horrible, horrible creatures, lol). If they want a Shikoku, I tell them exactly how the breed is - no hype or belittling.
Yeah...so it depends on the crowd in question.
Just for kicks...which would you like in your home?
This?
Or this?
I may not recommend a Mali to someone with a small child, but that doesn't mean that they can't co-exist and get along well with each other. Just as with any dog, you have to establish "rules" they must abide by. A lot of things can happen by accident, especially where a small child is concerned. The Malinois, without meaning too, could knock down or injure the kid. They aren't exactly a careful breed by nature, they can be VERY reckless. Just something people should be aware of. Malinois can be GREAT dogs in the right hands. And yes, they DO have their "down times", they can relax and be lazy. There IS an off-button, lol.
I'm not too far from the truth though when I say they're "horrible" creatures -smirks-.
Especially Malinois puppies:
People need to know what they're getting into if they want a Mali. I guess one can't truely understand and grasp the concept of Malinois being horrible creatures who also are excellent dogs unless you live with one.
Again, Malinois are hyper active dogs. However, my version of "hype" on the breed is just focusing on the more higher driven dogs. Not every Mal is like this. There are Malinois of every kind, some even who have low drive. These low driven dogs would probably do well as an active family pet. It's just I see many good Malinois out there being dumped into the rescue system or worse. It's usually because the dogs are "too much" to handle. If someone is serious about wanting and getting a Malinois, they'll ask more questions. I don't withhold any information on the breed. I may not always offer, but if they ask...I'll answer them straight forward.
They're awesome dogs, they're just not a dog for everyone.
Most Akita-Inu are very prey driven.
Most Akita-Inu are very independent.
Most Akita-Inu have very little true desire to please their owners.
Most Akita-Inu do not pay much attention to name recall while off leash.
Most Akta-Inu are very smart. They will figure our your routine and then figure out how to get what they want from you.
Most Akita-Inu are very loyal and have difficulty transferring ownership.
Most Akita-Inu are whisper quiet.
Most Akita-Inu are not destructve in the home.
Are there exceptions ? Sure but it is best not to focus on the atypical IMHO.